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The Harden 1: Unveiled

Harden and adidas agreed to a groundbreaking deal a little over a year ago, so we’ve known for a while that a shoe was the way. Eastbay was on the scene to bring you an exclusive look at the event, which included a guest DJ, fashion show, and concert. You can head to Eastbay’s Instagram and Snapchat for more on the event, but for now, let’s get to the shoe.

Tech

The Harden 1’s adaptive upper is wrapped with an asymmetrical lacing system for ultimate support, style, and a lockdown fit. Full-length Boost cushioning provides responsiveness and comfort. The shoe also provides Harden with next-level control, as the TPU wrap midsole provides stability during his quick cuts, while a fractal traction pattern gives ultimate grip in every direction.

Design

Harden was very involved in the shoe design process, which was a major selling point for him when he signed with adidas. He said the brand gave him the freedom to create.

“It’s not about the money at all,” Harden said. “It’s about having a voice. It’s about creating.”

Harden wanted to make the shoe uniquely his and the long design process reflected that. It took plenty of meetings with the design team, and months of work, but Harden says he’s satisfied with the result. In fact, he said that he thinks his is the best signature shoe in the game. He wanted his shoe and the apparel collection to be a reflection of himself.

“It was imperative for me to express where I came from, how I got to this point, and everything in between,” Harden said.

Harden said he doesn’t expect having his own signature shoe to have any effect on his mindset when he’s on the court. When he was asked if he felt pressure to play better now to help sell his shoe, he responded, “I don’t even know what pressure is.”